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Looking forward Aboriginal mental health project

Reach:

WA

Focus area:

Indigenous

Status:

Current

Evaluated:

No

Overview

The Looking forward Aboriginal mental health project aims to improve the effectiveness of alcohol and other drug services and public mental health services for Nyoongar families affected by serious mental health issues in the south east metropolitan corridor of Western Australia (WA).

The goal of the project is to develop a culturally safe mental health framework that will benefit the community and provide a benchmark for Aboriginal health organisations to follow.

The project methodology includes conducting a series of community forums across the region. The forums hope to gain feedback on:

the need for recognition and understanding of Aboriginal peoples and their culture

addressing grief, loss, and trauma associated with past injustices and suicide in the community

collaborative partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people

the need for an Aboriginal healing centre for access in times of crisis

the need for more Aboriginal workers in health services

building trusting and mutually accountable relationships between service providers and Aboriginal families

recognition of the shame of mental illness and how this contributes to the reluctance of Aboriginal peoples to seek help.

This project is a partnership between public and non-government service providers, general practitioners and other health professionals, Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service, Ruah Community Services, and the Telethon Kids Institute.

Contacts

Related publications

Open hearts, open hands: a spiritual journey of change (2013)

Wright M, O'Connell M, Jones T

This handbook was created with the consent of Elders of the Nyoongar community in Perth, Western Australia, and is a working document used primarily by mental health and alcohol and other drug support services in the south-east metropolitan of Perth, Western Australia. Open hearts, open hands: a spiritual journey of change is written in a conversational style as a way to guide readers into an understanding about the complexities and uniqueness of working with Nyoongar peoples.

Information includes:

how to use the handbook

foundation practices

assessing the landscape

uncovering the story: engaging silenced voices

the Minditj Kaart-Moorditj Kaart framework

being Nyoongar: yarning with elders

reciprocity: holding and being held

a spiritual journey of change

working together: a decolonising practice

working together: organisational change

the Open hearts, open hands journey

participatory organisational assessment

service-based systems change

team-based clinical work practices

Looking forward project evaluation

connecting the dots: translating our story of change for others

taking up your spiritual journey.

The authors acknowledge that the Looking forward project is located on Wadjuk boodja and would like to pay their respects to Elders past, present and future, and thank them for their wisdom and guidance in their work.

The Minditj Kaart-Moorditj Kaart framework is copyright 2013, all rights reserved. Dealing with any part of this knowledge for any purpose that has not been authorised by the Elders or their representative may breach customary laws and may breach the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth) and amendments. The traditional knowledge/traditional cultural expression rights and the Indigenous communal moral rights over such aspects always remain with the Nyoongar people. Use and reference is allowed for the purposes of research or study provided that full and proper attribution is given to the author, knowledge holder and traditional custodian group. For enquiries about permitted use of this information, please see contact details below.